Honolulu & Oahu Short-Term Rental Laws (2026)

Can you operate a short-term rental in Honolulu & Oahu?

Honolulu defines an STR as lodging for fewer than 30 consecutive days and confines them to resort-zoned areas plus a couple of specific apartment-zoned areas mapped under Ordinance 25-52. Ordinance 22-7 (Bill 41, 2022) tried to raise the minimum rental term outside resort areas from 30 to 90 days, but a federal court blocked that piece; a 2025 successor ordinance reintroduced a 90-day minimum and litigation over it continued into 2026, so verify current status before relying on 30-day-plus rentals. Pre-1986 operators with nonconforming use certificates (NUCs) may continue outside resort zones if they renew annually.

Permits & licenses in Honolulu & Oahu

Legal operation requires either a DPP STR registration (eligible resort/apartment-zone properties) or a valid, annually renewed NUC. DPP runs registration through its permitting portal and publishes eligibility and compliance maps.

1. 1

   Confirm eligibility

   Check the property against DPP's STR eligibility map and the Ordinance 25-52 apartment-zone maps; outside those zones, only an existing NUC allows under-30-day rentals.

2. 2

   Choose the STR type

   Register as a Bed & Breakfast home (owner-present, up to 2 rooms) or a Transient Vacation Unit (whole home); occupancy is capped at 2 adults per room.

3. 3

   Register with DPP

   Submit the STR registration through DPP (HNL Build portal) with required documentation and pay the registration fee; the unit is not legal until registered.

4. 4

   Renew annually

   Registrations carry an annual renewal fee; NUC holders must renew each year between September 1 and October 15 or lose grandfathered status permanently.

5. 5

   Register for taxes

   Obtain state GET and TAT licenses from the Hawaii Department of Taxation and register for Oahu's county OTAT with Honolulu Budget & Fiscal Services.

Fees: Initial DPP registration fee and annual renewal fee apply; amounts are set by DPP and not published on the summary page - see DPP fee schedule (widely reported as a four-figure initial fee, unconfirmed officially this session).

Short-term rental taxes in Honolulu & Oahu

Oahu STR income is taxed at three layers: state general excise tax (with an Oahu county surcharge), the state transient accommodations tax (increased effective January 1, 2026 by Hawaii's 'green fee' law), and Honolulu's own county transient accommodations tax (OTAT) established by Ordinance 21-33. Hosts have historically been responsible for registering and remitting - confirm whether your platform remits any layer.

Operating rules

Penalties for illegal short-term rentals in Honolulu & Oahu

Honolulu actively enforces against unregistered STRs, and reporting indicates substantial escalating daily fines for illegal operation and advertising; exact amounts were not confirmed from an official source this session. Tax non-compliance draws separate state and county assessments.

• ⚠Fines for operating an unregistered STR, with escalating daily penalties for continued violations reported (see DPP for current schedule)
• ⚠Advertising an unregistered or ineligible STR is treated as a violation
• ⚠Permanent loss of grandfathered rights if an NUC is not renewed in the Sept 1 - Oct 15 window
• ⚠State GET/TAT and county OTAT assessments, penalties, and interest for unremitted taxes (Honolulu BFS issues proposed OTAT assessments)

Official sources

1. [1]Honolulu DPP - Short-Term Rentals (official)
2. [2]Honolulu Budget & Fiscal Services - Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax (official)
3. [3]Hawaii Department of Taxation (official - GET/TAT rates and registration)
4. [4]Office of the Governor - Green Fee announcement (official)
5. [5]Hawaii Living - Bill 41 (CO 22-7) Oahu STR rules (secondary)
6. [6]Hawaii Living - 90-day minimum rental rule CO-25-02 / Bill 62 (secondary)

Summarized from the official sources above as of 2026-07-03. Informational, not legal advice — always confirm requirements with the jurisdiction before acting.